Nov. 30, 2011
Printable Week Four Women's Basketball Notes 
Week Four Women's Basketball Notes
Game 8 - Illinois (2-5) vs. Clemson (3-2)
Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011 // 6:00 p.m. CT // Littlejohn Coliseum (10,000) // Clemson, S.C.
On The Air
Radio: Live on WDWS-AM 1400 and online at fightingillini.com (Dave Loane)
Live Stats: Available on fightingillini.com
The Series
Clemson leads the all-time series, 2-1. Last meeting: Clemson 73, Illinois 62; 11/19/2001
The Coaches
Illinois: Jolette Law, 58-78 overall and at Illinois (fifth season)
Clemson: Itoro Coleman, 12-22 overall and at Clemson (second season)
Quick Hits
• Tip-off: Illinois returns to competition within the U.S. boundaries after taking a trip to Puerto Rico for the San Juan Shootout following contests at Oregon and California. Illinois does not return to playing games its home state just yet though, taking on Clemson in South Carolina. The Illini play nine straight games away from Assembly Hall overall, including a Dec. 7 game at Illinois State.
On the Oregon-California-Puerto Rico trip alone, the Illini traveled a total of 8,610 miles from Champaign to Chicago then on to Portland and San Francisco before heading to San Juan for a pair of games before returning to Chicago and back home to Champaign.
The Illini also have trips to Chicago and Las Vegas before returning to Champaign to meet Alabama A&M on Dec. 28.
• The Illini rank second in the Big Ten in blocked shots at 5.6 per game. Karisma Penn is third in blocked shots as the junior averages 2.6 per contest - only 0.2 behind the leader, Ohio State's Ashley Adams.
• Kersten Magrum used last season as a medical hardship after suffering through a stress fracture in her foot. Upon returning this season, Magrum set then-career highs in points (23) and rebounds (7) in the victory over Cleveland State in only her second game back and ranks 10th in the Big Ten in rebounding at 7.1 per game. Magrum followed with her first collegiate double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Memphis before re-setting career-bests with 24 points and 12 boards at Oregon. Magrum is getting it done at the free-throw line as the redshirt-sophomore ranks fifth in the conference, making 33 of her 37 attempts in the first seven games (.892), including going 12-for-12 from the charity stripe against the Ducks.
Scouting Clemson
Clemson is 3-2 overall, using a furious rally to drop Furman on Tuesday, Nov. 29 to move one game above .500 on the young season. The Tigers are led by Nikki Dixon's 15.2 points per game, with Quinyotta Pettaway (11.8) and Shaniqua Pauldo (11.0) also scoring in double-figures through five contests. Pettaway is the leading rebounder at 7.6 per game, while Lindsey Mason grabs 6.6 each contest and Pauldo follows with 6.0. Clemson opened the season with a pair of victories over Davidson, 72-62, and S.C. State, 83-38. After losses to South Carolina, 65-48, and North Carolina A&T, 76-66, the Tigers came back from a six-point halftime deficit against Furman to earn a 68-67 win.
The Illini are 1-2 all-time against the Tigers, earning an 80-62 victory on Nov. 18, 2000 in Champaign. The Orange and Blue also faced Clemson in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, coming up short, 63-51, at Clemson on March 14. The most recent contest also occurred at the Tigers' home court, where Illinois dropped the game, 73-62, on Nov. 19, 2001.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Thursday's game is part of the fifth annual ACC/Big Ten Women's Basketball Challenge. The ACC won the inaugural event, 8-3, in 2007 and went 7-4 in the 2008 and 2009 editions before winning the 2010 challenge, 6-5. Illinois is 1-3 all-time in Challenge games, falling at NC State, 61-47, in 2007 and at home against Virginia, 63-39, in 2008 before topping Wake Forest, 65-50, on the road in 2009. During the 2010 challenge, the Illini fell to N.C. State, 73-57.
2011 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule (CT)
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Virginia Tech at Iowa 7 p.m. (BTN.com)
Michigan at Maryland 7 p.m.
Nebraska at Georgia Tech 7 p.m.
N.C. State at Northwestern 7 p.m. (BTN.com)
Florida State at Ohio State 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
North Carolina at Penn State 5:30 p.m. (BTN)
Boston College at Wisconsin 7 p.m. (BTN.com)
Thursday, Dec. 1
Illinois at Clemson 6 p.m.
Indiana at Virginia 6 p.m.
Miami at Michigan State 7 p.m. (BTN)
Minnesota at Wake Forest 5:30 p.m.
Purdue at Duke 6 p.m.
Facing A Challenging Slate
Illini head coach Jolette Law compiled one of the toughest schedules in the country according to the combined strength of Illinois' opponents. The Orange and Blue will battle eight opponents appearing in or receiving votes for the current Associated Press top-25 weekly ranking, while the Illini have the 10th-highest strength of schedule according to RealTimeRPI.com. The only Big Ten team with a more difficult schedule according to the website is Penn State, which stands three spaces above the Illini.
Coming So Close
In two of its losses this season, the Illini were within one shot of securing the lead during the final minute of action as Illinois lost at Oregon, 77-74, and against Arizona State, 51-50.
After playing back-and-forth basketball over an 11-minute stretch in the second half, Illinois last led the game at 72-71 before Oregon scored a pair of free-throws for a one-point lead with 1:51 left. Oregon never led by more than three over the two minutes, while Illinois got within one on a tip-in by Karisma Penn with 28 seconds remaining.
In the final contest of the San Juan Shootout, the Illini and Sun Devils competed in a back-and-forth contest throughout the majority of the game. With Illinois leading by one and time winding down, Arizona State needed a turn-around jumper with the defense in its face to secure the win.
Your Newest 1,000-Point Club Member
Junior Karisma Penn is quickly climbing up several career charts, including recently eclipsing the 1,000-point mark against RV/#18 Green Bay. The Shaker Heights, Ohio, native enters the Clemson contest with 1,042 points and is the 24th Illinois player with more than 1,000 points. Penn also ranks 19th in career rebounds (560) and fourth in career blocks (153). For her career, Penn is averaging 14.3 points per game, including a career-best 17.5 per contest during her 2010-11 sophomore season. Penn also earned an average of 7.7 rebounds per contest during her 73-game career, which includes 72 starts, and 2.1 blocks to go with shooting .478 (404-845) while with the Orange and Blue.
Illinois' Career Scoring List
Points Player Years
1. 2,160 Jenna Smith 2006-10
2. 2,089 Ashley Berggren 1994-98
3. 1,984 Jonelle Polk 1983-87
4. 1,906 Lisa Robinson 1978-82
5. 1,639 Angelina Williams 2001-05
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20. 1,091 Alicia Sheeler 1996-99
21. 1,042 Karisma Penn 2009-
Illinois' Career Rebounding List
Rebs. Player Years
1. 1,217 Jenna Smith 2006-10
2. 1,014 Cindy Dallas 1998-04
3. 933 Jonelle Polk 1983-87
4. 900 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
5. 896 Lynnette Robinson 1978-82
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16. 589 Nicole Vasey 1994-98
17. 573 Erin Wigley 2003-07
18. 564 Mary Pat Travnick 1975-79
19. 560 Karisma Penn 2009-
Illinois' Career Blocked Shots List
Blocks Player Years
1. 231 Jenna Smith 2006-10
2. 163 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
3. 156 Kendra Gantt 1981-85
4. 153 Karisma Penn 2009-
5. 135 Jonelle Polk 1983-87
McCully Moving Up Career Assists List
Lydia McCully moved into 12th all-time in career assists with six combined against Green Bay and Arizona State. McCully now has 302 for her career, only nine shy of passing Allison Curtin (1998-01) for 11th all-time.
Illinois' Career Assists List
Assists Player Years
1. 550 Jill Estey 1989-93
2. 507 Jenny Johnson 1984-88
3. 451 Lacey Simpson 2005-10
4. 391 Michelle Vossen 1980-84
5. 342 Tauja Catchings 1996-00
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10. 312 Shavonna Hunter 1999-02
11. 311 Allison Curtin 1998-01
12. 302 Lydia McCully 2008-
Block Party One Of The Best In School History
Illinois had 12 blocked shots in its victory over Memphis on Nov. 15 - tied for the second most in a game in school history. Four of the top five single-game blocks totals have come during the Jolette Law era. The record is 13, set on Jan. 27, 2011 vs. Penn State.
Magrum Returns From Injury
After starting 15 games and averaging 4.3 points per game as a freshman in 2009, Kersten Magrum missed all but three games last season suffering from a stress fracture in her right foot. Magrum is considered the most versatile player in the Illini line-up. A natural guard, Magrum can play the 2, 3, or 4 position on the floor. Magrum scored in double-figures against Cleveland State, Memphis, Oregon and California, including a career-best 24-point, 12-rebound performance against the Ducks on Nov. 18. Magrum also has a pair of double-doubles through the first seven games, tallying 10 points and 10 rebounds against Memphis on Nov. 15 in addition to her career-best night against Oregon. On the season, Magrum is second in points (13.4) and rebounds (7.1) per game and is shooting .405 (30-for-74) from the field and .892 (33-for-37) from the charity stripe.
McGee Suffers Season-Ending Injury
Sophomore guard Centrese McGee will miss the 2011-12 season after suffering an ACL tear in her right knee just prior to the start of the school year. The Calumet City native had surgery on Oct. 6.
McGee started all 32 games for the Fighting Illini during her freshman campaign, averaging 5.7 points per game and ranking second on the team in rebounding at 5.3 per contest. She led all Big Ten freshmen in rebounding while ranking second among those first-year players in steals (1.2 per game). McGee had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in a victory over Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Following the season, she received the Coaches' Award at the team's annual banquet and was Illinois' representative on the Big Ten Sportsmanship Team.
A Full Fifteen
For the first time under Jolette Law, the Illini have a full complement of players on the roster. Returning 10 players from a year ago, the Illini added an impressive class of five for this season.
The incoming class includes two players from state championship teams -- Alexis Smith (West Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist H.S.) and Taylor Tuck (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook H.S.) and all five players who have excelled in the classroom.
The rest of the class includes Ivory Crawford (Chicago, Ill./Proviso East H.S.), the No. 88 ranked player in the class (No. 6 in Illinois) according to Blue Star Basketball; Nia Oden (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King H.S.), the 30th-ranked wing player in the class according to ESPN HoopGurlz; and Kierra Morris (Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park Academy), a first team all-state performer.
The returnees had a combined for 266 starts coming into the season from Lydia McCully (93), Macie Blinn (23), Eboni Mitchell (18), Lana Rukavina (34), Adrienne GodBold (5), Karisma Penn (65), Kersten Magrum (15) and Amber Moore (13).
Big Ten Tournament Tickets On Sale Now
All-session tickets for the 2012 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Illinois Athletics ticket office, Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is the site of the tournament from March 1-4.
All-session tickets are available for $50 through January 31, which marks a 30-percent discount off the regular price of $70. Fans wishing to purchase all-session tickets within their university's fan block for their respective team's games only are encouraged to contact their school's ticket office.
Illini to See Plenty of TV, Internet Coverage
The Illini will appear on national television at least seven times this season. In addition, 13 more games will be streamed live online on the Big Ten Digital Network and FightingIllini.com All-Access.
For the season, all 16 Big Ten Conference games and all Illinois home games will be either nationally televised or streamed online. In addition, all 10 Big Ten Tournament games will be televised, with the Big Ten Network airing the first three rounds and ESPN2 broadcasting the championship game.
Law Locks Up Two for 2012-13
Illinois head coach Jolette Law has announced the signing of 6-0 guard Mckenzie Piper (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West H.S.) and 6-3 forward Nia Moore (Bolingbrook, Ill./H.S.).
Piper committed to Illinois in June following Elite Camp. She also considered Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State and Iowa among others. Piper averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and shot 41 percent from the field in helping Iowa City West to the championship game of the Class 4A state tournament. The Trojans also won the Mississippi Valley Conference for the first time in 22 years. Piper transferred to Iowa City West after playing her first two seasons at Keokuk, who advanced to the state quarterfinals during her freshman year. The three-star recruit also played for All Iowa Attack and is ranked as the 59th best guard in the class by HoopGurlz.
Moore committed to Illinois in October after also considering Notre Dame, Auburn and Wisconsin. She is the second player from the highly successful program to join the Illini, along with current freshmen Taylor Tuck. Moore was the starting center for the 2011 IHSA Class 4A champions. The Raiders have won the last three state titles in the largest class in Illinois. Moore is a three-star recruit according to HoopGurlz and transferred to Bolingbrook after playing her first two years at Morgan Park. HoopGurlz ranks her as the 82nd best forward in the class nationally and evaluates her as a "shot blocker/changer." She played for the Illinois Dream Team during the summer.
2010-11 In Review
The Fighting Illini finished the 2010-11 campaign with a 9-23 overall record and a 2-14 mark in the Big Ten to finish in 11th place. Illinois pulled off two upsets in the Big Ten Tournament to become the first No. 11 seed to advance to the semifinals before falling to No. 2 seed Penn State with a trip to the title game on the line.
